It's been six months since I signed off.

"Are you really gonna leave," asked a friend. "It'll be a cold day in hell when you walk away from journalism."He was correct, particularly about the weather. A blizzard struck shortly after I retired. So, yes, it was a cold day in hell. Or at least in Hometown, which, for a time, resembled Siberia.Like everyone else, I spent quite a few days digging out from the March snowpocalypse.Thankfully, we've put it behind us.My half-year away from the keyboard furnished more than a record-setting blanket of white. It also brought fresh perspective.For one, I realized that some of the advice given me was right on target."You'll be lost in retirement," said a work associate. In a way, she was right.New patterns emerge when we give up a large part of our normal routine. Retirement is a lifestyle change requiring weeks and months of adjustment.Another friend offered a stern warning, but missed the mark."You'll be very bored. You won't know what to do with yourself. You'll go crazy."He was wrong. In fact, I wonder how anybody who truly knows me would think I'd be bored.I've been busier than ever and know what to do with each hour of each precious day. As for going crazy, well … I was already crazy to begin with and so that's a draw.What have I been doing?Well, I spent weeks purging a 40-year collection of data stored in file cabinets at my house. Those precious steel arsenals were loaded with news clippings, photos, programs, documents and all sorts of trivia from pre-digital, pre-computer days.Then I had a chance to visit the corporate offices of Pencor Services Inc. in Palmerton. I was a full-time employee for nearly two decades and freelanced with the Times News as far back as 1975, yet I'd never been inside corporate headquarters. And that's really surprising since my family roots are in Palmerton."It's a good thing you weren't here. It means you never got in trouble," someone there remarked with a smile.The historic building is impressive. But one thing is certain; it's good my office wasn't located there. I would've spent too much time next door at Claude's Creamery, the perfect therapy for my ice cream addiction.With the break in the weather, I'm back in the saddle of my antique highwheel, traveling to festivals and museums to acquaint folks with one of the world's first bicycles.I didn't abandon journalism. I wrote a few stories. I covered the emergency razing of historic Kaier Brewery in Mahanoy City. The seven-story building began to lean dangerously and threaten nearby homes. I felt I had to be there.In some ways, the end of the abandoned landmark signaled the obliteration of small-town industrialization in that proud community. When an era ends, especially in a manner so stark and dramatic, there's a story to tell. I felt compelled to ask questions of local residents and take photos by the hour. I spent nearly two full days on site.It didn't matter I'd retired. That minor detail was insignificant. When a major news story breaks, there's no such thing as retirement for those of us who love to write. Those stories, the ones which impact an entire town or region, need to be told.I explained it this way: "Writers have writing in our blood; we're born to tell stories. It's part of us. It's who we are." That's what I remarked to editor Marta in an email. Of course, she understands. I was preaching to the choir.All newspaper writers feel the same. There's a special bond among men and women who make a living in ink or online media. It's a shared purpose of commitment to readers and an urge to do what's right. For me, journalism isn't a job. It's a blessing.Still, retirement has been a welcomed change.For instance, this will be the first Memorial Day in 20 years that I won't be covering a parade or cemetery service. Instead, I'll relax and enjoy the day and reflect on the times.Nowadays we hear so much about fake news and intentional dishonesty at high places. Yet small-town journalists remain devoted to truth and accuracy. It's more important now than ever.Yes, mistakes happen. No, we don't always get it right. But commitment to solid, honest reporting has never been stronger, and with it, respect for readers.For me, one of the best ways to observe the holiday is to return to the keyboard to say hello. So I'm here to say I missed you.I'm happy to be back in the saddle and hope to see you again.